Steering automotors or motor-vehicles.



J. V. BOURKE.

STEERING AUTOMOTORS 0R MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILEDYOCT. 10, 1914. Y 1 177 986. Patented Apr. 4,1916. 7 Z i i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

65,; J i avenfr kfioane \HE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. v. BOURKE. STEERING AUTOMOTORS 0R MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- I0, I914.

1, 177,986. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

. 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2. zg'g. 9 I 13g. 10.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON. n. c.

" ture of the traverse of the links, and that of JOHN VINCENT BOURKE, OF SOUTH LAMBETI-I, LONDON, ENGLAND.

STEERING AUTOMOTORS OE MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. a, rare.

Application filed October 10, 1914. Serial No. 866,165.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN VINCENT BOURKE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of t Heyford ave nue, South Lambeth, London, S. 7., England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Steering of Automotors or Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is the specification;

This invention consists in the application of means and mechanism to the steering apparatus of automotors or motor vehicles whereby the unequal forces sometimes encountered by the leading wheels, tending to cause swerving or skidding, are borne by the said means or mechanism, thus relieving the worm gear or the like from all strainsin steering. V r

The improved means and mechanism consists of an eccentric and links combined and operating with the ordinary steering apparatus of a motor vehicle.

In order that my invention may becompletely understood, reference should'be made to the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate one example thereof.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of the leading wheels, axle and steering apparatus of a motor vehicle showing my appliances in position. Fig. 2 is a plan of the mechanism showing how it is attached to the axle. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the eccentric through the center. Fig. 4 shows a slotted disk on' which the eccentric rotates. Fig. 5 is a plan of the eccentric partly in section. Fig. 6 shows the eccentric strap connected tothe steering link bar. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the mechanism with one front wheel removed. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the eccentric. F ig. 9 is a plan of the supporting bracket which carin the usual manner.

r'ies the'eccentric, and is connected to the main axle. Fig. 10 is a plan of the guide ring. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic plan showing the difference in versed sine inthe curvathe center of the eccentric and illustrating how that difference is compensated for by the slotted disk on which the eccentric is mounted.

A is the eccentric mounted upon the axle B' of the car or vehicle in a manner hereinafter described. Pivota'lly' mounted at either end of the axle B are stub axles B B upon which the wheels B B are mounted The axle B has rigidly secured thereto a frame or bracket T (Fig. 8) which bracket is adapted to carry a stationary pin P formed at its upper end of rectangular section.

cured on the upper end'of the pin, said parts S and S also serving to prevent VQI'tlCitl,

movement of the eccentric.

The boss O of the eccentric A is provided with a hollow groove or channel A within which a fixed ring or collar E fits, and around which the'boss O is adapted to slide or partly rotate. The said ring E carries a The eccentric A has formed therewith a worm D adapted to engage the worm wheel C. The said worm is keyed or feathered on the steering shaft F in any approved way to'slide longitudinally on the shaft and totate therewith 1n such manner that the worm wheel C will begiven a partial rotation by the rotation of the steermg wheel (not shown) of the car.

Rigi'dly secured to the strap N of the eccentricA is a'bar or link G connected at'its end to levers'H, H, secured in the usual manner/to the stub axles B B the said levers H, H, are slotted at their ends in order to compensate for the difference in radius between the said levers and the eccentric. V

On either side of the center pin P on the frame T and in a straight line parallel to the axle B through the pin P, I provide 9) upon which pins parallel pinsR, B (Fig.

links J, J, are adapted to oscillate. The links J, J, are pivotally connected at their ends to the steering'bar or link G in such manner that the bar or link will have 'a parallel movement in relation to the main axle B. v

Referring to Fig. l1, this' shows thedifiierence in the: versed sine" in the curvature of the traverse of the links-J, J, and that of the center. of theie'ccentric' and how'th'at dite 7 having stee ing ference is compensated for by the slotted disk on which the eccentric is mounted. It will be seen bv this diagram that uneven forces from either of the wheels cannot .1 feet the steering, such forces being resisted by the stationary or eccentric pin while the eccentric is capable of being moved freely bv the action of the worm and worm wheel. Bv these means swerving or skidding of the vehicle is prevented.

d' hat I do claim as my invention and dc sire to securebv Letters Patent is 1. In a steering mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with pivoted axles h v'ng steering arms, and a fixed support, pivotal rod connection between said arms. a parallel link connection between said fixed support and said pivotal rod con: nection. an eccentric mounted on the suport for lateral oscillation and bodily shiftint; movcmert forward and back. an eccentric strap on the. eccentric. a rigid connec tion b tween sa d eccentric strap and the said pi otal rod connection. and operating means for turning the eccentric.

2. In a steering m chanism for motor vehic es. the combination with pivoted axles ha ing steering arms. and a fixed sup ort of a pivo al rod, connection between said arms.

a parallel link connecti n b tween sa d fixed s p o t and said ivotal rod connection. an eccent i mounted on t e Sup o t for lateral. o cillation and hodilv shiftin movement forward and b ck. an eccentr c strap on e ecce t ic. a ri i c nnec ion between said ecc nt ic s a an the said pi talrrod connection. and ope ating means fo turning the eccent ic. sa d means including a wo m cooperati g with the said worm wheel.

3. in a stee i q mechani m for motor vehic s. the combination with i oted axles ha ing stee ing arms. and a fixed suppo t of a pi ota r d connecti n b t een said a ms. a parallel link c n ct on between said fixed s o t and said ivctalrod connection, an eccent c. m unt d o the s port for late a oscil a ion nd hodilv shift a mo eme t forwa d and b ck. an ecc ntric strap on he ecce tric. a rigid conn c o bet een said eccentric strap and the said ivotal rod c nnect on. and o erating mean for turning the eccent ic. sa d m ans including a worm w el n the eccentric. a worm coiiperating with the s id wo m whee and a rotary shaft co nected with the said worm.

4. In a steerinn m chani m for motor vehicl s. the combination with nix oted axles arms. and a fixed suppo t. of a pivotal r d c nnection between said arms. an eccentric mounted. on said sup ort betwee the ivoted axles for lateral scillation and bodilv shi ti g m vement forward and b ck. an eccentric st ap on the eccentrio ri idly connect d with said pivotal rod connection, a parallel link connection between said support and the pivotal rod connection at each side of the eccentric, and operating means to turn the eccentric.

5. In a steering mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with pivoted axles having steering arms, and a fixed support, of a pivotal rod connection between said arms, an eccentric mounted on said support between the pivoted axles for lateral osci lation and bodily shifting movement forward and back, an eccentric strap on the co centric rigidly connected with said pivotal rod connection, a parallel link connection between said support and the pivotal rod connection at each side of the eccentric, and operating means to turn the eccentric, said means including a worm wheel on the eccentric, a part mounted on the eccentric to permit rotation of the eccentric relative thereto. and a worm carried bv said part to cooperate with the said worm wheel.

6. In a steerin mechanism for m tor'vehicles. the combination with niv ted axles having stee ing arms. and a fixed support. of a pivotal rod connection between said arms, an eccentric mounted on said support between the pi oted ax es for lateral oscillation and bodily shifting" movement forward andh ck, an eccentric strap n the ecce tric rinidlv connected with said piv tal rod connec ion. a parallel l nk connection between said suppo t and the pivotal rodv connection at each side of the eccentric, and 7 operatin means to turn the eccentric. said means i cluding a worm wheel on the eccentrio. a ring m u ted on th eccentric to perrnit rotation of the eccentric re ati e thereto, and a wo m ca ied bv said ring to cooperate with the said worm wheel.

7. In a. steering mechanism for m tor vehic es. the combination with an axle. pivoted stub axles at the ends he eof provided with steering arms. a verticallv extending bearing on theax e int mediate its ends. an ecc tric moun ed on id h aring for lateral osc llation and to shift bodilv forwardlv and back. an ecce tric strap on t e eccentric. rod sections r gidlv connected with the eccentric stra at its free end, said rod sections extending to opposite sides of the eccentric strap to the respective st ering arms and being pivotallv connected therewith. parallel loo link connection. between said rod secti ns member as a pivot, an eccentric strap on the eccentric, connections between the steering arms and the eccentric strap and operating means to turn the eccentric.

9. In a steering mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with an axle, pivoted stub axles at the ends thereof having steering arms, a bracket on the axle extending to the rear thereof, a vertical bearing on said bracket, a member mounted on said bearing for movement forward and back at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the axle, an eccentric mounted to oscillate about said member as a pivot, an eccentric strap on the eccentric, a pivotal rod connection between the steering arms of the stub axles, a rigid connection between said rod and the eccentric strap, parallel link connections between the said rod and the bracket, said parallel link connections being arranged one at each side of said vertical bearing, and operating means to turn the eccentric.

10. In a steering mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with an axle, pivoted stub axles at the ends thereof having arms. a bracket on the axle, a vertical pin on said bracket, a disk mounted on said bearing for movement forward and back at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the axle, said disk being provided with an elongated slot slidably engaged by the pin, an eccentric arranged to oscillate about the disk as a pivot, an eccentric strap on the eccentric, connections between the steering arms and the eecentric strap, and operating means to turn the eccentric.

11. In a steering mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with an axle, pivoted stub axles at the ends thereof, having steering arms, a bracket on the axle, a vertical pin on the bracket, said pin having a portion rectangular shaped in cross section, a disk provided with an oblong slot to slidably engage the rectangular shaped portion of the pin to slide thereon, an eccentric arranged to oscillate about said disk as a pivot, an eccentric strap on the eccentric, connections between the steering arms and the eccentric strap, and operating means to turn the eccentric.

12. In a steering mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with an axle, pivoted stub axles at the ends thereof having steering arms, a bracket on the axle, a vertical pin on the bracket, a disk having an enlongated slot to slid-ably engage the pin, a slide plate on the bracket for the disk at the under side thereof, a slide plate at the upper end of the pin engaged by the disk, an eccentric arranged to oscillate about said disk as a pivot, an eccentric strap on the eccentric, connections between the steering arms and the eccentric strap, and operating means to turn the eccentric.

JOHN VINCENT BOURKE.

Witnesses:

I. D. Roors, O. J. WORTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

